Articulated bracelet or the like



Patented Oct. 14, 1947 UNITED STATES oFFicE ARTIGULATEDBRACELET on @n n .una

York,l N. vY.

Application August-30, 1946, Serial hlm-:694,025

weleens- 'The invention relatesv to articulated `bracelets 'or the Ylike and, in particular, :to Athe .provision of new and improved articulated structures adapted particularly .to `wrist-bands, bracelets, AWatch-bands, necklaces, chains, or similar` ar'.- 'ticles or devices made-up of a pluralityoimembers, elements or links -p'ivotally for iieXibly con- -nected together in-endetoend relation, .which links, or some atleast `thereof, -arereadily-and conveniently fdetachable one lfrom the other manually, Without recourse either vtoiactualfor 'simulated toolsY or devices.

vItv is an object o'f this invention to provide `lsuch-an improvedfconstruction embodying a ylink 'particularly `ladapted.- tov the `performance -of its ldesired 'func-tion, wherein the -manually operable `means 'for detaching the respective links is -readily and-conveniently accessible atv all times to the'Wearerfoia-bracelet,band or chain -em- -bodying the construction -of .this invention, wherein 'the aforesaid means is so -incorporated lin the link structure asto-impart decorative vvaluethereto, rather than to detract from 1 the decorative or aesthetic appearance thereof, Vand wherein f the aforesaid means is so located and Yof such form as to2-preventaccidental actuation thereof and consequent-,undesirable uncoupling of the bracelet.

It isA a further object l=of this inventionto `Aprovide such link constructions embodying an expansion feature wherebyfa'bracelet or similar v`structureembodying the' linkconstructionV is ex- Vvpa-nsible and vconi'iraci'ible duringfthe'wearing thereof, 'and wherein the expansion thereof'is 'j positively :limited in order to prevent idamageto ithe links upon application 4of-undue expanding forces to the structures.

It-isa further object-of this invention to Aprovide such aconstruction wherein the utmost flexibility oi assembly is achieved, and wherein 'the -Vlinks may -move transverselygwith Trespectfto "one ancthenas Well as expansibly'and-pivotal1y.

vide Asuch afconstruction-which lends itself to cheapand convenientproduction-inf various mai 'terials which m-aybe molded,-1stamped, orf'other.-

Wisel fformed,'l vby4 thefme'thod-imost suitable fior wor-king the particular material.

These and other-'objects sand advantages will clea'rlyappear '-from- -the A following. ldescription Vtaken with thedraWing--andlthe appended claims.

In the drawing: Fig. 1*is-ajp1anfview1ofea bracelet,` embodying thel construction 1 of thisinventionwith` two f of the links disconnected :from-one another;A inv order isatheipartsf innthepositiqn assumedtheijeby ,when

l@they ,assembly is.. extended;-Y '60 :the liliilmee degree ,and illustrating the positive connecting. link ,expension stop meansrin Lentretien;

iFie., .5 is; a, view,y similar t,o;.:Fig. bukshovvine both .,conneeting flink z biasing springs `in plete, and illustrating the position taken by the .peril/s .-when.y manual :force is applied laterally for reltracting. .the ,plungers and -u nceilpline .the link :fromv anadjacentz link, f or, opening the,- band 01 Y.25f.bra.celet formed by theassembly;

lFignG; isganJ yend-. vievv. o fla completelink showin in;Fig. 1, :.Iookinga in4 the direction indicated lby fthe-.arrows {i1-e6, irnlg. 1;

.fEig. :'7z is;:aesectionsftaken: substantially, `on. the

35 Eigal is av similaresection. ,taken substantially Eig. 1, 111 pis ani enlarged, fragmentary detailed ...view inperspective, partiallygbroken4 away,show ning. a-.modication wherein the link engaging .cQn-

40 nections., ontrunnions are formed integrallygwith ean-endwallofaflink casing; n

Fig. 12 is a plan view of a simplified .modificaiition accordingtothisinvention;

',eEig.- fleisla sidefviewiof v.thestructurexshown l in 1515-Fig- 12,5asiseenxiromf.y the: right looking .toward bilig.:14rissa?viewesmlaritqllig, .f12,-,ofA ,fa-modi- =,1"1cation,y of; the structurel 'therein, with V#theel link Aparts Y'in atheposition assumed by @them1 when r,an

oaassembly, formed thereof is contracted;

:Fig lfis; afview similar to'lig.`- 14, butshovving the,v structure of: -Fig.. 14:in;;the .positionassurned thereby ...when .the ...assembly `'.is..` expanded, and 'i when -adj acent'v links ,f lare@ displaced: transversely :--55:..with respectto eneanotheryand Fig. 16 is a plan view similar to Fig. 3 of another, simplied, modification, according to this invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, Fig. 1 illustrates a band formed of eight links, according to this invention, wherein the links are designated, respectively, A, B, C, D, EF, G and H, and wherein the links A and H are uncoupled from one another. When the links A and H oi the structure shown in Fig. l are connected or coupled together, a closed wristlet, band, or bracelet is formed thereby. Each of the links in the assembly shown in Fig. 1 is capable of being manually connected and disconnected from the adjacent links in a manner which will hereinafter clearly appear,

4 surface of the plunger 28, as shown in Figs. 2 to 5, and 7 to 1l. At the opposite side of the plunger 28, a similar slot 39 is provided for supporting the leg portion 3l, this. slot extending only from the end of the plunger 28 adjacent the wall 23 to the slot 32, as shown in Figs. 7 to 1l, inclusive.

The cooperation of the parts is such that when the top plate 22 is secured to the casing, the leg portions 33 and 3l are retained in the slots 33 and 39 respectively by the bottom wall 25 and the top plate 2|, while the hook portion 32 prevents outward longitudinal displacement or extension of the arms 33 beyond the position shown in Y Figs. 4, 9 and 10.

Each of the links A-H comprises a rectangular frame or casing, generally designated 23, ofv rectangular form, as shown in Figs. 1 to 11 inclusive, wherein the top or outer wall is formed by the top plate 2l and the similar side walls 22 and end walls 23 and 24 4are integral with the inner or bottom wall 25. The similar side Walls 22 are each cut away throughout their length, to form a slot 23 (Figs. 2 and 1l) extending from end wall 23 to end wall 24. The end wall 23 is provided with a pair of laterally spaced rectangular slots or apertures 21, permitting extension of 7a pair of connecting arms outwardly of the wall 23 for movement transversely toward and away from one another as and for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

Slidable between the end walls 23 and 2d, toward and from one another, are a pair of similar, obverse plungers 28, of generally rectangular form, each provided at its inner ends with a pair of similar spring receiving slots 23. A pair of compression springs 30 are disposed between the inner ends of the plungers 28, each with one of two aligned slots 29 supporting its opposite ends.

The compression springs 30 constantly bias or yieldingly urge the plungers 28 apart to the extent limited by avshoulder (not shown) formed between the thick inner end portion rof each plunger 28 and the manually engageable outer end portion 3| thereof which is of reduced thickness. of each plunger 28 is a slot or recess 32 which receives a hook 34 provided at the inner end oi?V one leg of a connecting arm 33, the end of the aforesaid hook portion 34 cooperating with the end wall of the slot 32 to form stop means limiting extension of the connecting arm 32 outwardly of the casing 20, as shown in Figs. 4, 9 and l0.,4

ing of unequal length and the longer leg 36 being straight, while the end portion of the other leg 3l is reversely turned back to form the hook 34, described above. The longer or top leg or leg portion is designated 36, and the shorter or rear legportion is designated 3l. Each leg portion' is supported for longitudinal sliding movement in a slot 38 extending from end to end of the plunger 23 adjacent the slot 32 in the upper or outer Intermediate the thick, inner end portion For cooperative, pivotal and interlocking relatio-n with the pair of arms 33 on an adjacent link, Ya pair of trunnions lil are provided which trunnions Ii are extensions of the xed leg portions di integrally secured to an end wall 24. The trunnions lil are laterally spaced with respect to the wall 2d and oppositely directed, since they extend toward one another. The spacing of these trunnions di) is such that when the plungers 28 are free of manual pressure, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the loop portions of the arms 33 are maintained in engagement with the trunnions 40 by the above described compression springs Sil, which yieldingly urge or force the plungers 28 apart. As shown in Fig. 5, when manual force is applied inwardly of the link, in opposite directions, to the respective plungers 28, the yielding force of the springs 33 is overcome, and the arms 33 are brought together suiciently to clear the trunnions de for ready and convenient detachment therefrom. In order to attach one link to another, it is merely necessary to apply manual force as shown in Fig. 5 tobring the parts to the position shown therein, then align the trunnions l o1" one link with the space in the loop between the leg portions 36 and 3l of the arms 33 of the other link, and release the manual force applied tothe plungers 28, whereupon the parts will take the position shown in Fig. 3. Thus, the trunnions 20 and arms 33 form xed and movable hinge means on adjacent links yieldingly urged toward locking or interlocking engagement by the plunger spreading springs 3D.

Alternatively, if it is desired to secure a closer coupling of the respective links, the trunnion structure 2Q, il may be omitted, and a suitable spaced and located pair of slots 42a (Fig. 11) may be provided in the end wall 24, which slots will -have oppositely directed inwardly extending trunnion projections 42, as shown in Fig. 11, whichmay be engaged by the loop portions of the respective arms 33 when manual force is released from the plungers 23 for this purpose.

A simplied form of the invention is illustrated in Figs. l2 and 13 wherein the casing or frame is generallydesignated 23a. and is of the same general form as the above described frame or casing 2t, except that the slot 26a in each of the side walls 22 is narrower than the above described slot 23 while a forwardly or outwardly raised shoulder 28a is provided at the inner end of the plunger 23 to engage that portion of the wall 22 extending above or outwardly of the slot 26a. The plungers 28 terminate inwardly with the shoulder 28a, because, in this construction, it is unnecessary ior them to provide support for the connecting arms, since these connecting arms (designated d3) Vare formed by a Substantially M -shaped ilat spring member 42. The arms or portions 43 forming Vthe connecting arms are provided with apertures Ml (Fig. 13) for engaging the trunnions 40 *alle tais memset i-z'iias 'el-ie interiineelate,v-v4

shad-Y'rti'- 45` threfgof 'substantially' the same length as the length of the space between th'wa-llsf and? 2t` Thus-threelop's' are formed in th-member' 421; two ef whichngage thefin'ner sidey ci" surfacecf' the eild wall 24, andi one of engages theinner surface of the' end wall i@ to r tal the spring? member 42 i'nproper loeatioii w respect te the frame or easing 201i.n Thisistrutioii is extremely' easy to assemble; sincelit'is merely' necessary that the spring mem= ber 42be pushed toward's'i thewall 25 inthe space betweenthe'iinri'e'i'f ndsivf thev plurige'rs- 28 or be-A tween. the shoulders zttherecf with the por: to'rlis 43l=projectingl eut'wai'dlythiou'ghi tli'elslots- 2 1.

The construction illustrated in'iFigs. 14 and 15 is. similar to-tliat shownA in: Fig.v 12, except that thelnterniediat'e' Vshaped portion 452i thereof is oilesser eiztentthan the correspndingportion IIEV described above: This abbreviation-permits of the insertion of aresilient block (not shown)` or a leaf spring; member 48 between the? wall 23. and this Veshapedportion 45a; whereuponthe central part ofi' this portion 15a will l'ie'sllpportedY on the cen tral'portion of: the spring member 48- which acts as: a yielding knife'. edge; soV to speak'. This permit'sof" extension of? the` arms 4-3 unequally upon relativalateral movementof: adjacent links' in ex-y paision' of the assembly embodying such a link, since' the aXis^a'-a"of the aperture's'llll- (Fig; 14) maymove laterally. as well'f as outwardly as, for instance. to the position designated af-a in VWhenlth'e arms 43 are. inthe position shown'in EigsflZ; 14, and 15'; they interlockin'gl'y engage the trunnions 40 fv a coupled link. In order to' disengage or'uncouple the links, it is merely nece's's'ary to apply manual 'forcfto thefplungers 28 tmove them-together, thus bringing the arms 43 together to such extentk that they may be removedfrom thetrlinnio'n's4 401m the manner generally illustrated in Fig. 5 with respect to the arrnsl 33;

It isfto'bel noted' that the outer ends of the biasing leaf: spring: 'member I8n4 are turnedv back' upo'nfthemselves to form terminal loops 49 on the springfmemb'er virhiehrl'omvsv 492' are forcedv out Wal'dly.V upon cbn'lpressioill ofi they biasing spring 48:' (i; el., extension ofthe arms 43) to exert a 'snulebi'ng'f andH stiffeiiings'effect upon thev connect# lng arms; This:` prevents undue: movement of thesefarni's 43in extensin and contractionexertu' inglafdamping' effect thereon;v

As ani-alternative; -one' plnger128'may' be omite ted;j a'rl'dy a dummy '2Bb-substitlited therefor, this yfplngerbeing'rigidly'fsecured to or' ln:- te'gr'a'llyorme'diwithirespect to onewall '22. The other p1ungerf-28'fis'bf the form sho'w'n in Figs; 12 w15,y andlhas the`sh`oulder Z'Saat its inner end irllen'g'a'ig'enflentV withk a. atporticn 53V of a geni'a'illy' E-shapedfspiignlember 5'4. The spring 4-'fhafs'fi tlie1othel* fatpotion 55th`ereof secured between the wall Zit-'andasuitable'retaining abut'- ,xe'iitfor'shoulderi 56, -as'fshcwn in Fig'. 16. One oIftheslot'`21'i'n theiw'all 23 k'is omitted'and a stationary apert'i'e'd -legf 43alsirigidly 'secured to thewall 23. Thi'sarm 'th'o'l'lgh'o'f the same qll ebviatingfuifiblifig; their accessibility# obvia-tine iifatiire ei the pluiig'ei-'retraeiing operation arie the location efiliev plussers preventing accidental iii-ieeiipliiig ef'tlle links. silice eaeli ef the linksI may' bef ef this eeristiteneri, el barili, bracelet er wristletz ierinstanee, may be uneeupled anywhere trifeeglieut its length siffle-e sutil uneeuplingf mayr be aeliieteet bytheuiieeuplirlg ef any paireiadflatent links thieughet the lerlgilithereof. Y

Feitliernieie, me bracelet, baila, er the like may te iliade extensible by the inier'pesiiieif tlie're'in e'f only ene, ei more, of trie link eerlstiiile. tiens-shown Fissi 1 te 1i inelusive er' Figs.

- I4 andv 15% *Intleflattef construction (furthermay readilys formed if oat4 i" iloldedr metal;- non-metallic plasticymaterialor" even f 'Wood eiherdeesireefmateiials while the-frame creasing may likewise b'-ol'ddg cast; stamped-or coined` dnd-ng p the" material desired.- The reotanguflr for'rn'` is' likewise inerely illustrative and may ybe varied'V widely in accordance withV aes# thetic appearance and design practice'.v

It i'sfof course tailleunderstoodthat' the' above description isvnirely illstrat-ive'- and in nowis'e'l limiting and that I- desire tocomprehend Within myA invention such modifications as are included within tl'ies'cope of' theappnded claims;

` Having? thus fiilly'described my invention what IJ claim' and desire t'o'secuf by Letters Patentis' 1'; In' aV bracelet orf the like'icomp'risinga plur'alit'y oflirik's dtahably' G'orilfieoted in end-t0: end relation;v a link' comprisihga casinghavihg ied transverselyspace'd inwardly directedtrun-v nons associatedwith-one end thereof', iapair of transversely spaced connecting' arms projecting from the -oppositiee'r'ld ofsaid casing, r'neansy nor-v n'lall'yV yieldingly 'spreading said arms'ap'art a dis'-r t'a'nCe greater"`than" the spacing'- of the adjacent ends 'fof said` tr'li-ri-nioiis; and rn'eans vmanually en; gageable and' actuable in opposition-to said lastl'a'lr'le'dmeans fr4p moving saidl arms together sufo'i'ntly foi"V disengagement from said trimr` Ilbns; Said last nB/'ined inea-11's' nirsing at least'l l-p1i1nger`itndirig thouh--a Side Wall f Saidv casing and normally biased outwardly of said casi-n.

'2l In a bralet Or the like' COnpriSiga pllira'ltyof linksfd'etafchbly crlrleot'edih 'end-t'- v erfid relation", -al link comprising a A'cas'iilg ha'vin'g' i'ed' transversely yspaced inwardly? directed t'rurie' ni'os e'S'S'eatd'With'bne enitthereof; 'a lpair ofy transversely spaced connecting arms projecting ing throughout a major portion of the lengthof SaidJ fr* I-i'i'enfene: ofl'm'a'nllal engagefilent.v

They kstr'l'i'tillzler defined in Claim 2'Whe'reilsaid plungersl's'upportsaid'cnhecti-ng arms;

lg-'rile structuredeiliiee inEv claim 2, wherein said connecting* an's are* ""pbrtecl by saidl plungers for movement contraction of said bracelet or the like, and means associated with said arms and said plungers for yieldingly resisting extension of said arms for expansion of said bracelet or the like.

5. In a bracelet or the like, a link comprising a casing having top, bottom, side and end Walls, trunnions on one end wall of said casing, said trunnions being transversely spaced and directed toward one another, a pair of arms projecting outwardly through the opposite end wall of said casing and having apertures adapted to receive said trunnions, said arms being yieldingly urged apart toward interlocking engagement with the trunnions of an adjacent link when engaged therewith, and manually engageable means for moving said arms together for disengagement of said arms from said trunnions, said last named means comprising a pair of plungers extending from saidcasing at opposite sides and each engaging one of said arms.

6. lThe structure dened in claim 5, wherein said arms are formed of resilient material and connected at their inner ends by an integral loop portion yieldingly urging said arms apart toward interlocking engagement with said trunnions when engaged therewith.

7. In a device of the character described, a link comprising a body, fixed hinge means secured to one end of said body, movable hinge means extending from the opposite end of said body, biasing means yieldingly urging said movable hinge means toward a predetermined position wherein it will interlock with said fixed hinge means on a similar link body when engaged therewith to form a hinge connection therebetween, and manually engageable means comprising a pair of opposed plungers projecting transversely from said body and movable inwardly of said body toward one another for overcoming the force of said biasing means and moving said movable hinge means from said predetermined interlocking position to a position facilitating disengagement of said movable hinge means from said fixed hinge means for disconnecting said adjacent links.

8. The structure deiined in claim 7, wherein one of said hinge means is yieldingly extensible endwise with respect to said body to provide expansion in an assembly including said link as a part thereof.

9. The structure defined 'in claim '7, wherein said manually engageable plungers are normally spread apart by said biasing means and normally contractible to overcome the spreading force of said biasing means for moving said movable hinge means positively away from said interlocking position.

l0. In a device of the character described, a frame, a pair of opposed plungers extending transversely therefrom, a pair of connecting arms engageable with cooperating means on an adjacent frame for hingedly connecting said frames, means normally maintaining said connecting arms locked to said cooperating means when engaged therewith, said plungers being manually movable toward one another for unlocking said arms for disengagement from said cooperating means.

il. The structure defined in claim 10, wherein said connecting arms are yieldingly extensible for expansion of a structure including embodying said frame, said arms and associated parts.

l2. The structure donned in claim 10, wherein said plungers support said connecting armslindependently of said frame. y

13. The structure defined in claim 10, wherein said plungers support said connecting arms for yielding extension independently of said frame.

14. In a bracelet or the like, a link comprising a casing, trunnions xed to one end wall of said casing, said trunnions being transversely spaced and directed toward one another, a pair of arms projecting outwardly through the opposite end wall of said casing and having apertures adapted to receive said trunnions, said arms being yieldingly urged apart, and manually engageable means operable for decreasing the distance between said armsfordisengagement of said arms from said trunnions, said last named means including a plunger projecting outwardly through one of the side walls of said casing and engaging one of said arms.

15. The structure defined in claim 7, wherein the arm engaged by said plunger is formed of resilient material and provided at its inner end with an extension fixed to said casing.

16. In a bracelet or the like, a link comprising a casing, xed trunnions at one end of said casing, said trunnions being transversely spaced and directed toward one another, connecting means adapted for pivotal connection with the trunnions of a similar adjacent link including a pair of transversely spaced yieldingly spread arms extending beyond the opposite end of said casing, and means for moving said arms together for disengagement from said trunnions comprising a pair of plungers projecting transversely from said casing, said arms comprising the extremities of a substantially M-shaped leaf spring, the V- shaped portion of said leaf spring between said arms yieldingly spreading said arms apart and the loop portions of said leaf spring engaging the inner surfaces of the opposite casing end walls for maintaining said leaf spring in position with respect to said casing, and said plungers each having shoulders at their inner ends limiting their movement outwardly of said casing, said shoulders engaging said arms.

17. In a bracelet o-r the like, a link comprising a casing, fixed trunnions at one end of said casing, said trunnions being transversely spaced and directed toward one another, connecting means adapted for pivotal connection withthe trunnions of a similar adjacent link and including a pair of yieldingly extensible transversely spaced yieldingly spread arms extending beyond the opposite end of said casing, and means for moving said arms together for disengagement from said trunnions comprising a pair of opposed plungers projecting transversely from said casing, said arms comprising the extremities of -a substantially M-shaped leaf spring, the V-shaped portion of said leaf spring between said arms yieldingly spreading said arms apart, and a leaf spring disposed between said arms and between said V- shaped leaf spring portion and the adjacent casing end wall for supporting said M-shaped leaf spring for yielding extension of said arms unequally from said casing, said last named leaf spring having end portions frictionally engaging said arms upon extension thereof to exert stiifening and snubbing forces thereon, and said plungers each having shoulders at their inner ends limiting their movement outwardly of said casing, said shoulders engaging the outside lateral surfaces of the respective arms.

18. In a bracelet or the like, a link comprising a casing, fixed trunnions at one end of said casing, said trunnions being transversely spaced and directed toward o ne another, connecting means adapted for pivotal connection with the trunnions of a similar adjacent link and including a pair of transversely spaced arms extending beyond the opposite end of said casing, a pair of manually engageable plungers extending from opposite sides of said casing, means positively limiting the outward movement of said plungers With respect to said casing, and means yielding- 1y spreading said plungers apart, each of said arms comprising a member slidably supported by one of said plungers for endwise movement and terminating at its outer end in a trunnion engaging loop, a longitudinal slot in each arm supporting plunger, and a spring in each of said slots connected with an arm and exerting yielding retracting force on said arm.

19. In a bracelet or the like of the character described, a link comprising a casing, xed trunnions at one end of said casing, said trunnions being transversely spaced and directed toward one another, connecting means adapted for pivotal conection with the trunnions of a similar adjacent link and including a pair of transversely spaced arms extending beyond the opposite end of said casing, a pair of manually engageable plungers extending from opposite sides of said casing, means limiting the outward movement of said plungers with respect to said casing, and means yieldingly spreading said plungers apart, each of said arms comprising a biiurcated member slidably supported by one of said plungers for endwise movement and terminating at its outer end in a trunnion engaging loop, a hook at the inner end of one furcation of each arm movable in a longitudinal slot in the supporting plunger, a spring supported in said slot and engaging said hook and exerting yielding retracting force on said arm, through said hook, said hook engaging an end of said slot upon extension of said arm positively to limit extension of said arm with respect to said casing.

INGE'MAR TAEGTSTROEM. 

